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Barnes, Bill (William), 1920 - 2019

 Person

Biography

William 'Bill' Barnes was a renowned film history and collector, who together with his twin brother John (1920-2008), amassed one of the finest collections of early British cinema in the country.

Bill and John became fascinated with cinema from an early age. When they were twelve years old they had a home cine projector and soon after, still in their teen years, they started to make their own films and documentaries. Examples of the titles they created together are Cornish Nets and With the Gypsies in Kent.

Bill and John started to collect cinema material in the 1930s. The brothers served together in the Royal Navy during WWII. At the end of the war, they became specialist booksellers of cinema and pre-cinema material.

The brothers opened the Barnes Museum of Cinematography in St Ives in 1936. John managed the collection while Bill continued to build up the collection visiting fairs, markets and auctions around the country. At this time Bill was working as a Film Production Consultant in London, where he used to visit markets and antique shops. The museum closed in 1986 and the collection was split between the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin and Hove Museum. Eventually, Bill started to run his own stall in Chelsea antiques market selling optical toys, lantern slides and photo cine items. John, who remained in Cornwall all his life, died in 2008. The brothers had always been very close and Bill felt a great loss.

Bill became a leading authority on many aspects of the optical media that preceded cinema and in particular of the early years of cinema itself.

John and Bill wrote extensively on early cinema history, John was known for The Beginnings of Cinema in Britain series and Bill for his articles on The Magic Lantern journal among others.

Bill and John received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling in 2006 and the Jean Mitry Prize.

Found in 286 Collections and/or Records:

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 5 December 1905

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.81
Scope and Contents

Black illustration of a woman dancing, a view of the building and a performer on the outside, inside programme listing Burke, Andrus and Frisco, Nell Richardson, Thoms and Evelyn, Belle Davis and Piccninnies, Captain Slema and Miss Alice, Mdame Guinchan, Haigh and Novel, The Palace Girls, The Follies, Mlle. Juliette and her performing sea lions, Nora Bayes, Abie Mitchell and The Bioscope. Contains commercial advertising, 2p.p.

Dates: 5 December 1905

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 28 April 1902

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.82
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme with black illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing Harry Drew, Mabel Allen, Katie Vesey, Professor Dunca and his troupe of Collie dogs, May Belfort, The Follies, Maude Courtney, G.H. Chirgwin, Tableaux Vivants, The Madcaps, Datas, Quatuor Basque and The American Biograph. Contains commercial advertisements.

Dates: 28 April 1902

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 24 December 1900

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.83
Scope and Contents Three fold programme with colour illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing Abba Omar, W.H. Morgan, Lizzie Ramsden, Edie Ross, Aglos Trio, George Ridgwell, The Marco Twins, mlle. Kara, The Alaska Arminis, Proveanis Troupe of cyclists, The Manhattan Comedy Four, Edith Courtney, H. Thurston, Arthur Stanley, Mrs Brosn-Potter, The Amoros Werner Troupe of Pantomimists, The...
Dates: 24 December 1900

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 28 November 1898

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.84
Scope and Contents Three fold programme with colour illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing Cabaret, La Tostia, Les Gaetano Olloms Trio, Edith Courtney, Vandy, Harry Pleon, Byron Chas. Bicknell, Euterpean Vocal Quartette, Staley and Birbeck, Cyrus Dare, Charles Capper, Marie Lloyd, Burke, Andrus and Frisco, Wood and Shepard, The American Biograph, sid Black, Arthur Nelstone and Minnie...
Dates: 28 November 1898

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 21 February 1898

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.85
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme with colour illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing Carl Grant, Wilfred Edwardes, The Karmanns, Nellie Hanlon, Avolina, Edith Courtney, Kokin, Herbert Linwood, The Marionis, Gus Elen, S.J. Rawson, Ymata Tiero, The American Biograph, Marie Lloyd, Zaeo the Great, Mignonette and The Burnells. Contains commercial advertisements.

Dates: 21 February 1898

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 18 September 1897

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.86
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme with colour illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing Barry Lindon, Will hebden, Emmeline Ethardo, Lelia Roze, Will Crackles, Les Gardenias, Deyo, William E. Ritchie, Sadie Jerome, Wilson and Waring, The American Biograph, The De Foreests, Mays and Hunter and The Glenroy Troupe. Contains commercial advertisements.

Dates: 18 September 1897

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 7 January 1901

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.87
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of woman dancing on reverse, on the front programme listing Abba Omar, Edie Ross, Lizzie Ramsden, George Ridgwell, Aglos Trio, Linda Berti, Guy and Gontran, The Alaska Arminis, Arthur Stanley, The Manhattan Comedy Four, The Marco Twins, J.M. Campbell, H. Thurston, Edith Courtney, Goleman's Cat and God Show, Mrs Brown-Potter, Proveanies Troupe of Cyclists and The American Biograph.

Dates: 7 January 1901

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 4 December 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.88
Scope and Contents Three fold programme with colour illustration of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside, on the inside programme listing James Dunn, Mignonette, Little Eric, The Dinus Troupe, Emma Krouse, Mons. and Mdme. Hills, Avon Saxon, May Edouin, the Orpheus Vocal Octette, Burns and Evans, Marie Dainton, Fleury Reybaud, Bert Gilbert, Severus Schaffer, Mrs H. Beerbohm Tree, Montgomery and Stone and The American Biograph....
Dates: 4 December 1899

The Palace Theatre of Variety Programme, 16 October 1897

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.89
Scope and Contents Three fold programme with monochrome illustrations of a woman dancing, illustration of interior and exterior views of the building and a female performer on the outside on brown background, on the inside programme listing Will Crackles, Miss Edith Bruce, Mr Fred Walton, Miss Dorothy Glynn, Barry Lindon, The Glenroy Troupe, Sadie Jerome, Emmeline Ethardo, Les Dumonds, The Parkins Trio, The De Foreests, The American Biograph, William E. Ritchie, Marie Dainton and Zaeo The Great. Contains...
Dates: 16 October 1897

The Palace Theatre Programme, 4 April 1904

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.77
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of woman dancing on the front, on the back black, light green and red type on white and light green background and programme listing Walter Clyde, The Five Sisters Warwick, Doherty Sisters, The Stelling Troupe, Hamilton Hill, Star and Leslie, Marion Winchester, Malcolm Scott, The Eight La Scala Girls, Godwynne Earle, Mr Arthur Roberts, G.H. Chirgwin, Mlle. Miette, Mr Arthur Roberts, The Bioscope and Horace Goldin.

Dates: 4 April 1904

The Palace Theatre Programme, 29 September 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.102
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of a woman with a large black hat on the front cover, inside commercial advertisments and programme in the centre listing G.S. Melvin, Michal Braham and his dog, The Passing Show and The Palace Bioscope, 12p.p.

Dates: 29 September 1914

The Palace Theatre Programme, 22 September 1914

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.103
Scope and Contents

Black and white illustration of a woman with a large black hat on the front cover, inside commercial advertisements and programme in the centre listing G.S. Melvin, Michal Braham and his dog, The Passing Show and The Palace Bioscope, 12p.p.

Dates: 22 September 1914

The Palace Theatre Programme, 25 March 1911

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.133
Scope and Contents

Three fold programme with colour illustration of interior theatre scene depicting the stage, the band and some members of the audience on the cover, inside commercial advertisement and programme listing Miss Lily Hill, Madeleine Rossiter, Zertho's Dogs of All Nations, Trovato, Argentina, Signorina Marie Rita Brondi, A Fantasy in Black and White, Carlton, Miss Evelyn Millard and Company, Miss Maud Allan, Madame Louise Balthy and The Palace Bioscope.

Dates: 25 March 1911

The Palace Theatre, The Rag's Charity Matinee in Aid of the Daily Dispatch and Chronicle Unemployed Fund Programme, 16 December 1904

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.80
Scope and Contents Black illustration of a woman holding a hat and a man smoking on the front cover, inside list of artist and programme listing Mr Ryder Boys, George Robey, Harry Weldon, The Marvellous Craggs, Marie Kendall, Steve M,Carthy, Bob Vokes, Will Hall, Vitor Andre, Yoko & Hama, Dusty Rhodes, H. Stafford, R. Reading, Leslie Gordon, Morny Cash, A.E.M. & W.A.B., Albert Ventnor, Houdini, Vendome & Chase, Marco, Nelson's Newsboys, Ross & Grayson, Sam Mayo, Sic Brothers Luck, TomLeamore,...
Dates: 16 December 1904

The Palladium Programme, 29 December 1913

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.131
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of the façade of the building on the front cover, inside commercial advertisements and programme listing Fred Earle, Cissie Lupino, Adele Moraw, Albert Whelan, Little Tich, I Do Like Your Eyes revue and Ruffell's Imperial Bioscope, 6p.p.

Dates: 29 December 1913

The Palladium Programme, 1 January 1917

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.132
Scope and Contents

Purple and white illustration of the façade of the building on the front cover, inside commercial advertisments and programme listing Michael E. Fitzgerald and his club juggling girls, Vernon Watson, The Versatile Four, Tom Wong Troupe the Chinese juggler, Coram ventriloquist, Ella Shields, The Two Bobs, R. G. Knowles, Maidie Scott, George Mozart and Ruffell's Imperial Bioscope, 6p.p.

Dates: 1 January 1917

The Royal Canterbury Theatre of Variety Programme, 8 April 1896

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.35
Scope and Contents Will Dalton, Violet Nelson, Star Herman, The Halliwells, Edith St. Clair, The Almontes, Lily Burnand, Brothers Darnely, The Bostons, Harry Tate, Royal Villion Troupe, Charles Seel, Bonnie Kate Harvey, Maynard and Calver, Tom White's Arabs, Arthus Lennard, The Phantos, El Dorado, The Land of Gold ballet, Kate Geraldine, Ara, Zebra and Vora, Katie Lawrance, Athas and Collins, The Leopolds. Three fold programme, brown type on off white background in the centre with brown illustrations of acts...
Dates: 8 April 1896

The Surrey Programme, 13 December 1915

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.117
Scope and Contents

White and blue type on white and blue background and blue and white photograph of the exterior of he building on the front cover, inside commecial advertising and programme listing Syd Sydney, Musical Lento, Rose Cambry, The Aerials, Tom E Hughes, Surrey Bioscope, Fred Kitchen and All Nonsense, 2p.p.

Dates: 13 December 1915

The Swan United Electric Company Catalogue, 1883

 Item
Reference code: 178Z64.21
Scope and Contents

White text on black background on front cover. Contains descriptions of electric lamps and dynamos, illustrations and text, 14p.p.

Dates: 1883

The Tivoli Programme, 24 September 1902

 Item
Reference code: 178K53.40
Scope and Contents Miss Marie Wilton, Burnetti, The Missouris, Mr Gorge Mozart, Miss Vera Vere, Florence and Lillian, Mr James Fawn, Miss Ida Rene, Forest and King, Miss Dollie Ravensberg, Clack and Hamilton, Mr George Robey, Tom and Lily English, Miss Vesta Victoria, Mr R.G. Knowles, Miss Ada Willoughby, Mr R.H. Douglass, Mdlle Eugenie Fougere, Mr George Bastow, Sisters Levey, Miss Vesta Tilley, Mr Dan Leno, Cross and Holden. Three fold programme with colour illustration of a woman in a yellow dress with red...
Dates: 24 September 1902

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 285
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 7
Aerialists 5
Anglo-Afghan Wars 10
Anglo-Burmese War, 3rd, 1885 4
Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882 33